Avangrid taps Calif. utility exec to replace Torgerson as CEO

Photo | Avangrid Incoming Avangrid CEO Dennis Arriola

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By Michael C. Bingham

Veteran utility executive Dennis V. Arriola has been named the next chief executive officer of Avangrid Inc. Arriola succeeds longtime Avangrid CEO and president James P. Torgerson, who will retire June 23.

Arriola comes to Avangrid from Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE) of San Diego, Calif., a $12 billion energy infrastructure company where he is executive vice president, group president and chief sustainability officer.

Before that Arriola was chairman, president and CEO of Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), EVP and chief financial officer for SunPower Corp., and SVP and CFO of both San Diego Gas & Electric and SoCalGas.

“Dennis’ substantial experience in the energy sector, including utilities and renewables, as well as his deep strategic, financial and operating background make him a natural choice to lead Avangrid and execute our long-term strategy to become a leading sustainable energy company,” said Avangrid Chairman Ignacio S. Galan in announcing the appointment.

“Avangrid is an extraordinary company and I am very excited and honored to lead this organization as it moves into its next phase of growth,” Arriola said. “The energy sector is at a transformational point and Avangrid is well positioned to deliver clean energy solutions to its customers and help develop the infrastructure necessary to meet our future climate goals.”

In addition to his corporate positions, Arriola chairs the board of the California Latino Economic Institute and is also a director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Auto Club Enterprises. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Stanford and a Harvard MBA.

Headquartered in Orange, Avangrid has operations in 24 U.S. states, approximately $35 billion in assets and 6,600 employees.